Blank-feeding device



BLANK FEDING DEVICE Filed May 16, 192s -5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwoon/6oz JAY 6.' SWB s; www? www May 29, 1928. 1,671,943

J. G. swAB BLANK FEEDING DEVI CE Filed May 16. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wuemtoz JA Y 6I S WAB May 29, 1928.

JAY

May 29, 1928. v1,671,943

J. G. SWAB v BLANK'FEEDING DEVICE Filed May 16, 192s SASheets-sheet 4 W ff May 29, 1928.

J. G. SWAB BLANK FEEDING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented May 29, 1928.

narra-LD .sf-rares NEW-YORK, Ass'IGnoR ro 'nENnY'rRENcHARn JR., or

BROOKLYN, nnw YORK.

BLANK-FE'EDING nnvcn.

f Application nea may 1e,

V It is important in machines for formingr articles such as 4envelopes from lpreviously.

"cut paper blanks that the blanks be 'ted one Aat atime land accurately in predetermined position in 'order that the folds may register yexactly with the yseveral parts of the blank. l,

The invent-ion has for an object to 'provide improved means for reliably releasing blanks from a supply stack one by one and feeding them accurately vin predetermined position 'to a 'machine operating thereupon.

A further object is to provide means operative duri-ng the passage of the blank through 'the machine for insuring" accurate registration of the blank with respect tothe lines of fold. The nature of the invention and other ob jects thereof will be better understood from 'a'descript-ion of a selected illustrative em- 'l'bodiment thereof. A mechanism for feeding envelope blanks toy an envelope forming machinehas been selected for particular description and. is shown inthe Aaccompanying drawings forming a 'part hereof, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation of a feeding mechanism forming a part yofan envelope making machine constructed in accordance with the invent-ion. Y

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a view in side elevation taken from the oppositeside f the machine.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section view taken on the line 4--41- Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view substantially in elevation indicating the manner of'registering the blank in the grippers. n

Figure 6 is a detail view of the gripper operating cam.

Figure 7 is a detail view of the separator roll. Y v

Figure 8 is a detail view of the ysuction picker. v A Figure 9 is a detail sectional view taken 1923. 'serial No'. 699,278.

'on the line 9 9 Figure 2 shoi'vi'n'g thef'ee'd roll control cam mechanism. y

Figure 10 is a detail sectional View of the gripper roll mechanism.

Figure 11 is Ia view fsho'xving the 'gripper roll usting'nieans.

In the mechanism shown, a supply of envelope blanks provided in la stack 5 supported in inclined position and the blanks are 'fed v'one by one from the bottom of the stack Vbeing 'first engaged at their upper edges. This arrangement of the stack is preferred bnt is not essential.

In 'operatien the upper edge `of the bottom blank isreleas'ed from its'support upon a hollow perforated separator member 6 by inward 'rotation of said member to bucklev Athe blank .near its edge and release it. from support bysaid member. Simultaneously or thereafter a suction 'picker 7 engages said blank toward its edge 'and swings the upper end thereof downwardly to the position indicated at 8 in Figure 4 where it is engaged by a pair of feed vrolls 10, l1 and thereby carried forward and upward to a conveyor gripper roll 12 on the shaft 13 which will be 'considered the drive shaft of the feeding mechanism. This gripper roll engages the blank at spaced points and-carries it forf wardN between saidv gripper roll and a coop erating presser roll l5 as indicated in Figures l and 4. v I

Thevhollow perforated suction member and support 6 as .shown is `in the form of a rotatable hollow shaft of relatively vsmall diameter having perfor-ations 16 Ialong its blank engaging portion. Means ispro- `vided for rotating this shaft through an arc `which is' slightly greaterthan the distance to restore' to fiat condition any engaged.

blanks which may have been slightly buckled `or disturbed during the operation of freeing the preceding blank.

The buckling of the bottom sheet downwardly by the rotation of the separator roll 6 is facilitated by a slightinitial curvature of the sheets as best shown in Figure 4. As thereshown, it will be noted that the supporting roll 6 is Slightly above the plane of the top of the stack support thus causing a slight curvature of the sheets adjacent said roll and between it and the upper edge of the stack support. The difference in level between the top of stack support and the top of the separator roll G is somewhat exaggerated .in other figures. This arrangement is preferred for the reason that if the sheets are entirely straight7 the stiffness of the sheet might be sufficient to cause a slipping between the rotating separator roll 6 andthe iottom sheet thus preventing release of the sheet and causing unreliable operation of the machine. The curvature, however, is preferably not too much because if the roll 6 is too high the stiffness of the paper may be such as to cause an excessive weight upon said roll thus possibly interfering with the perfect operation of the separator roll.

The suction picker 7 engages the bottom vblank and draws the same downwardly to position to be engaged by the feed rolls 10, 11 as shown most clearly inFigure 4.' The rotatable separator member 6 and the suction picker 7 are timed preferably to operate substantially in unison so that the action of cach assists the operation of the other. The suction in the suction picker is preferably maintained only during its operative period, that is to-say, from the time the picker engages the blank until the feed rolls 10, 11 engage the saine. lhen the operative movements of the separator roll 6 and thev picker 7 are suitably timed both may be connected to one suction tube and one valve may control the suction in both.

The suction of the separator' 6 upon the freed blank is automatically broken by the rotation of said member in that as it rotates past a certain point the blank is no longer in engagement with the roll or supporting member at the point where the same is perforated. The exhaust passages connected with the separator are however relatively small so that the suction of the picker is not thereby released.

In the construction shown, the separator 6. and picker 7 are connected to a source of suction by means of a flexible tube 17. A valve 18', actuated by a cam 19 on the drive shaft controls the suction.

The mechanism shown for rotating the hollow supporting member comprises a lever Q0 connecte-d to an arm on said supporting member 6 by means of a suitable link 22 and actuated by means of a cam 23 on the drive shaft- 13 through a link 25 as shown in Fignee/neas ure 4. The suction picker shown comprises several suction arms of different lengths to correspond generally to the lcontour of the forward edge of the blank. The three central arms 7 a engage the blank at theposition of the kforwardly projecting flap. The side arms 7 b and 7 C are shorter and may engage the blank where the flap projects or at the side wings depending upon the width and style of envelope blanks being fed. The three central arms 7 a are of such length that the lower feed roll 10 is recessed to receive the ends thereof as is indicated in Figures 4 and 8. rllhe other arms are shorter and do not interfere with the roll. The picker arm 7 may be operated by any suitable mechanism. As shown in Figure 1 a pinion 27 is provided on the end vof the picker shaft which pinion is actuated by a rack 28 controlled-by a positively acting double cani 30 on the main drive shaft. The rack member 2S is provided with rollers 31, 32 projecting from its opposite faces and engaging the two parts of the double rcam 30 to give the suction picker 7 a downward movement and return. iihile the free edge of the separated blank is held in lowermost position by the suction picker 7 it is engaged between the feed rolls to be drawn from the bottom of the stack thereby.

In the operative position shown in Figures 1 and 4 the upper feed roll 11 is -in a position to interfere with the downward n'iovement'of the picker 7 and of the separated blank carried thereby. Means is provided, however, for movingthe upper roll out of such position to permit free downward movement of the blank and picker arm and to return the roll to operative position after the blank has been carried down to roll engaging' position. .In the arrangement shown the upper roll is mounted ina frame comprising two substantially similar side members, one on each side of the machine. These side members ai'econnected at their upper ends by a tubular memberl 38 open at its lower side for the greater portion of its length, as indicated at 39 in Figure 4 and at their lower ends by tubular rod 40. The upper feed roll 11 is rotatably mountedin the slotted tubular member in'busliings 46, this construction being i'ireferred for thereason that a greater rigidity of the frame can be obtained.

rllhe frame 35 is oseillated about the lower roll shaft by means of a link 41, pivotally connected to thc frame as indicated in Figure 3 and controlled by a positively acting` double cam mounted on the main drive shaft as indicated in Figures 2 and Both of the feed rolls 10 and 11 are positively driven from a gear 42 on the drive slia ft 13 through an idle pinion 43, a gear 44 xed to the lower feed roll shaft and a pinion. 45 secured to the upper feed roll shaft.

If the feed rolls 10, 11 are in constant engagement with each other, any inaccuracy in the'position yof the forward edge of the blank when itis rst engagedby the feed rolls as they move to operative position will cause the blank to be pulled first toward one side with a resulting tendency for the inaccuracy of the position of the blank to be increased during its movement between the feed rolls. In order to avoid any inaccuracy in the feeding movement from this cause, the two rolls are separated and vthe blank inserted therelietween, after which the rolls are brought together to engage the blank and feed it forward.

The separationof the feed rolls 10, 11 in the illustratedarrangement to receive the blank therebetween is accomplished by an arrangement wherein the upper roll 11 isv raised when it is swung to the left and is againlowered when it is returned toits operative position shown in full lines in Figure 4. In the structure illustrated the rocking frame is permitted a slight substantially vertical movement relative to the lower feed roll shaft on which it ispivoted. This is accomplished by making the bore which engages said shaft in the form of a slot as indicated at 47 in Figure 4. That portion of the tubular member 88 at the upper end of said frame which liespbeyond the end of the slot 39 at each end is arranged to ride upon a cam plate 48 securedto the supporting frame as best shown in Figure 9. These cams are so shaped that upon rearward movement from the operative position the tubular member 38 rides up upon the cams one at each side of the machine, thus lifting the upper roll 11 away from'the llower cooperating feed roll.y rIn order-t insure proper engagement of the rolls when the frame 85 is swung to its operative position, the frame and therefore the upper roll is pressed downwardly at each side of the machine by a spring ypressed plunger 50 mounted in a bracket 51 4and acting on a pivoted arm 52.v The rocking of the frame thus causes the engagement and separation of the feed rolls as well as the movement of the upper roll 11 to andV from operative position.

The .blank after it passes between the feed rolls 10. 11 is engaged by a yieldable skid 55 which deiects it upwardly whence it passes between this guide and a cooperating `guide 56 to the lgripping conveyor roll 12.

As shown the gripping conveyor roll is made in adjustable sections. As shown in Figure 5 it consists of two spaced gripping sect-ions 56, 57 `which are preferably supplemented bv additional bearing rolls 58, 59 at either side adapted to engage the side wings of the envelope blank.A The gripper' sections each comprise a pair of mating drums 60, 61, the gripper being mounted in the drum 60. The opening and .closing movement of thel gripper is cam controlled as will be best understood from Figures 4, 5, 6 and 10. The radial movement of the gripper is controlled by means of rollers 62, 63 secured .to

the radially movable gripper member 64 and engaging cam slots 65, 66 in the drum .60. The direction of movement, sofcontrolled, is such that when the gripper is in open position it is retracted peripherally a distance substantially equal to the length of the gripper jaw 69. This .diagonal movement of the gripperjaw accomplishes two functions. The jaw is retracted peripherally when open to permit .engagement of the blank will the roll and removal therefrom without interference with the jaw and the forward closing movement aids in adjusting i the forward edge of the `blank to exact registering position. The gripper jaw 69 is pivotally mounted on the outer endof the lgripper member 64 and a spring 70 engaging the rear end of the ]aw 4member urgesA the jaw resiliently into blank gripping .position. m y

The 'opening and closing movement of thelgripper member 64 is cam controlled. It is Aprovided with a projecting boss 73 `which extends through a slot 74 and carries at its outer end a roller 75 cooperating with a cam 76. This cam is loosely mounted on the shaft 13 and is held against rotation by means of an arm 77 thereon secured to a suitable part of the ymachine frame. This method ofcontrolling the gripping movement of the grippers gives thereto a relativelyy slow motion as compared with the free, rapid snapping motion which is afforded when the yjaws are closedby spring pressure with a snapping action. As above described the radial movement of the grip-` pers is such that when the gripper jaws are in open position they are relatively retracted and when in closed position they are moved inwardly and forwardly to engage the paper. As shown in Figure 4, kthe paper rmoves upwardly between the guides 55, 56

position against the gripper-s to be accurately Lregistered thereby. The peripheral speed ofthe feed rolls may be for example about :10% in excess of the peripheral speed of the'gripper rolls to accomplish this function. By this arrangement as shown in Figure 5, ,as the paper is moved forward relative to the grippers, the edges of the forward flap of the blank engage 'against ythe llt) grippers and the paper will thus be guided into the desired registering position.

The blankis further adjusted by the closing movement of the grippers which as they move forward to closed position engage first the tapered side edges c, (Z, and finally the corners a, l). The blank readily buckles to permit the forward edge portion to be moved to exact registered position and the movement of the grippers under cam controlis slow enough to permit it to assume the correctly adjusted position with the corners a, l), snugly against the similarly formed inner faces of the gripper jaws before the jaws reach clampin(r position against the gripping rolls. rlhe slow movement avoids the tearing of the edges of the blank;

In setting up the machine the gripping rolls may be adjusted peripherally to operate .in suitable timed relation to the other parts of the machine by rotating the roll and shaft as a whole while the driving gear is loose on the shaft. It is occasionally desirable, however, to make a fine adjustment of one gripping roll section relative to the other to correct a tendency of the envelope blank to twist slightly in the machine. Provision is made for such adjustment by means of a pin or screw 80 having an eccentric end 8l which engages a slot S2 in the shaft. rl"he clamping screw 83 may be released and the roll adjusted by means of this eccentric device whereupon the clamping screw is again tightened. This arrangement also provides for lateral adjustment of the rolls to accommodate envelope blanks of different widths without loss of 'the eripheral adjustment. Vhen such lateral adjustment is desired the clamping screw 83 is released and the gripping roll moved laterally to desired position, the eccentric pin 8O then serving by its engagement with the slot in the shaft to maintain the peripheral-` adjustment of the roll.

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the foregoing description. A supply of blanks' is placed upon the stack support with the edges as nearly even as possible. The separator and supporting roll 6 is rocked clockwise, as shown in Figure l, to release the bottom blank from support thereby and to buckle it downwardly adjacent said roll. The suction picker 7 is operated to function simultaneously with the separator roll 6, that is to say, the suction picker engages the sheet to draw it downwardly at about vthe same time that the separator roll 6 functions to release said sheet. Immediately upon the completion of the downward movementof the suction picker and the blank carried thereby, the rocker frame 35 swings to carry the feed roll ll to its operative position as shown in full lines in Figure l. The cams 48 cooperating with the frame hold the frame in lifted position and the roll ll out ofcontact with its companion roll l during the forward movement and until the roll l1 practically reaches its final operative position, whereupon the frame passes over the forward edges of the cams and drops into operative position engaging the blank along the line spaced slightly inwardly from the edge of the sheet and incidentally, it engages the sheetthroughout the full engaged width simultaneously. As the frame and roll 1l approach operative feeding position the tubular member 89 comes into engagement with the presser member 5() which insuilres downward movement of the frame and ro l.

The feed rolls are constantly driven through the constantly meshing gears 44, so that immediately upon engagement with the paper, the feeding operation begins. rlhe feed rolls l0, 1l carry the blank forward and up between the guides 55, 56 into position to be engaged by the gripping rolls. At the time the forward end of the blank approaches the grippers 68 they are in open and peripherally retracted position under control of the cams 76. The blank first engages the periphery of the gripper roll l2 at a point which may be substantially in front of the jaw 69 but the peripheral speed of the feed rolls l0, ll is substantially ten per cent in excess of that of the gripper rolls so that the blank is moved forwardly under the gripper jaws 69. About the time the forward edge of the blank reaches a suitable position the gripping jaws are actuated by the cams 76 to move them forwardly against the side edges c., d, of the forwardly proj eeting flap portion of the blank and into the corners a, b. As soon as the blank is clamped by the grippers, it is released from feeding engagement by the feed rolls l0 and l1. The frame 35 is again rocked, whereupon the roll 11 is immediately raised due to the fact that the cam engaging portion of the tubular member 39 rides up the sloping forward ends of the cams 48.v

As the frame 35 and roll 1l moves rearwardly the tubular member 38 of the frame engages the guide and moves it rearwardly against the action of the spring 55.

The arrangement illustrated aords reliable means for feeding blanks accurately to predetermined position and is particularly valuable in the manufacture of special articles requiring accuracy of registration. Vfhile the particular description refers more particularly to its application to an envelope machine, such reference is merely by way of illustration and is not intended as defining the limits of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a paper feeding device of the character described in combination means for let() tion a hollow perforated supporting member extending parallel to one edge of the blanks of the sta-ck, means `lor rotating said meinber inwardly to release the bottoni blank and.

means for creating suction therein during thel period of rotation.

In a blank feeding apparatus of ther character described for feeding blanks from the bottom of a stack of blanks, in combination a 4hollow perforated supporting member extending parallel to one edge of the blanks of the stack, means for rotating said member inwardly to release the bottom blank and means for creating suction therein during the period of rotation, and means for gripping the released bottom blank and withdrawing it from the stack.

4. In a paper feeding device of the character described, in combination means for supporting a stack of paper blanks, air suction means, movable inwardly from one edge to release the edge portion from its'support and a suction picker engageable with the released portion to further separate the bottom blank from the stack. y

5. In a blank feeding apparatus of the character described for feeding blanks from the bottom of a stack of blanks, in combination a hollow perforated supporting membei', extending parallel to one edge of the blanks of the stack, means for rotating said member inwardly to release the bottom blank and means for creating suction there.

in during the period of rotation, a suction member engageable with the released edge portion and operative to bend the same downwardly and gripping means engageable with said edge portion to draw the blank from the stack.

6. In a feeding device of the character described, in combination, means for supporting a stack of paper blanks in an inclined position whereby the weight on the bottom blank is substantially less than the weight of the stack, a hollow perforated supporting member extending parallel to the upper edge ing a stack of paper blanks in an inclined' position whereby the weight on the bottom blankis substantially less than the weight ofthe stack, a hollow perforated supporting -member extending parallel to the upper edges of the blanks `where the pressure is least, means for rotating said member inwardly to release the engaged Aedge portion of the bottom blank, means for bending the released edge portion downwardly, feeding rollers forgripping said bentedown edge portion and drawing the blanks from the vstack and means for moving one of said feed rolieis to and from blank gripping position.v

8; In a blank feeding apparatus of the character described for feeding blanks fi'om vthe, bottoni of a stack, in combination, a

hollow perforated supporting member extendingv along and parallel to one edge of the blanks ofthe stack, means vfor rotating said supporting'inembei through an arc -slightly greater than they distance of the member from the edge of t-he blanks to re lease the bottom blank and means for creating suction therein during the period of rotation.

9. In a feeding device of the character described, in combination, a pair of feedrolls,

Ia frame comprising a transverse tubular member and side members connected to the opposite ends thereof, and pivotally mounted upon the aXis of the first feed roll, the second feed roll being rotatably mounted in said tubular member and said tubular member being open at one side to permit engagement of the feed roll therein with the rst feed roll.

10. In a blank feeding apparatus of the character described, an air 4suction separator engageable with a blank nearone edge to separate said blank from a stack of blanks and a suction picker engageable with said blank at a point further fiom the et ge thereof to further separate said blank from the stack, substantially as described.

ll. In a feeding device of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a feed 'roll mounted thereon, a frame pivotally mounted concentric -with said shaft, a second feed roll mounted thereon, means for rocking the frame about its pivot to carry the second feed roll to and from operative position andv cani means for moving the frame to carry the second feed roll toward and from' the first mentioned feed roll diiring the rocking movement of the frame.

described, in combination, a shaft, a feed roll mounted thereon, a second feed roll and means yto move it bodily toward the first mentioned roll and circumferentially with respect thereto.

. 13. In a feeding device of the character described, in combination, a pivoted frame,

said frame comprising opposite side mem# bers and a tubular member connecting the same, said tubular member being open on l2. In a feeding device of the character one side and a roll mounted in said tubular member and engageable through the slot of' said tubular member substantially as and for the purpose described.

14;. Ina blank feeding apparatus of the character described for feedingblanks from the bottom of a stack, in combination, a hollow perforated supporting member eX- tendingalong` and parallel to one edge of the blanks of the stack7 means for rota-ting said supporting` member through an arc slightly `greater than the distance of the member from the edge of the blanks to release the bottom blank and back through the same arc to replace displaced blanks and means for creating suction thereon during the period of rotation in both directions.l

l5. In a feeding' device of the character described, in combination, a. shaft, a feed roll mounted thereon, a frame pivotally mounted concentric with said shaft, a second feed roll mounted on said frame, means for rockingthe frame about its pivot to carry the second feed roll to and from operative position and meansffor moving the secondv feed roll toward and from the first mentioned feed roll during the rocking movement of the frame.

l5; in a feeding; device of the character described, in combination, a. shaft, a feed roll mounted thereon, a frame pivotally mounted concentric with said shaft, a second feed roll carried by said frame, means JAY e. swan. Y 

